It’s a job many of us do not envy but interim and independent administrator John Tanner AM has wasted no time over the last few months helping put the Moira Shire and its many projects on the right track.
At next Wednesday’s (May 24) council meeting Mr Tanner will deliver recommendations that will “lay down the foundations” for the incoming panel of administrators.
Calling it a ‘reset’ period until the panel of three administrators for the council is appointed by the Victorian government in June, Mr Tanner has been busy getting the “house in order” at the shire.
In fact, Mr Tanner believes that when the period of administration is finished in 2028 the new elected Moira Shire Councillors could walk into a council effectively framed to be the best shire in the state.
“It is my desire to ensure my period lays down the foundations for the panel to effectively carry out its duties in framing the council (i.e., services and its people) as one of the best in the state in readiness for the 2028 council elections; in effect, a rebranding of what and how we do things,” Mr Tanner said.
The library and multisport stadium
In the last few months Mr Tanner has been busy planning the future of major projects and at the top of the list for Yarrawonga is the new Library and Events Precinct and the Yarrawonga Multisport Stadium.
At the May 24 council meeting he will be recommending a way forward on various issues and projects, in particular the multisport stadium.
Mr Tanner has been engaging with and holding meetings with key stakeholders around each project.
“We've listened and got a list of things that we need to act on, so that's what we need to do now," Mr Tanner said.
“I have met with a lot of individuals in Yarrawonga on a number of issues and held substantial meetings particularly with the stadium project.
“With all these projects there will an approach of total transparency, and that’s the only way we can move forward on those.”
Mr Tanner said council is committed to the Library and Events Precinct on the site at the back of the town hall with a significant amount of work already done.
He said future community engagement will be undertaken throughout the remainder of the project as it progresses forward.
However, Mr Tanner said there was still further work to be done on the multisport stadium before definite decisions are made on its future.
“There is work to be done on the on-going management of the multisport facility, which I hope to have more to report on for the May council meeting,” he said.
“The issues there, as far as management is concerned, is to ensure whatever money is spent on the stadium is not going to be an ongoing burden on the community.
“In saying that it has to be balanced in regard to the need of the community, it’s not just an issue as far as the cost is concerned, but it’s also weighing up all the benefits to the community.
“We must do this necessary due diligence, as this was not done before.”
Aligning health, education and local government
But on top of the fundamental issues for the way forward Mr Tanner would also like to establish more resilience in the community.
“It links into what we are trying to achieve as a part building resilience for the community and where there is an area that needs to be improved on and that is the link between health, education and local government.”
Mr Tanner said his work as the administrator at Brimbank Shire proved that aligning these key sectors and have them working together in a growth area like Yarrawonga and Moira Shire is extremely important.
“If you haven’t got that alignment with health, education and local government you will not get the best outcomes, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
Mr Tanner added that while it is good working and linking these areas at a staff level, the alignment needs to also be at a CEO and Principal level.
“It is important, so that when you are going for any grants as far as the advocacy work is concerned, that’s where it really pays dividends,” he said.
“What I’m wanting is a round table with all key players. I think that would be a really good thing to go forward with the panel of administrators.”
Staff
Mr Tanner said his challenge has been to make sure that he has all the staff on the same page moving forward.
“As with any change, a focus on staff and their wellbeing is an essential priority. The staff have not only had to work through the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the shire’s operations, but also on ensuring that council services are not compromised.
“After meeting with all of the staff, that we have moved forward maybe only little steps, but we’ve moved forward.
“I have now met with our staff in all areas of our operations and listened to their key needs to enhance their roles and our services.
“I commend them on the way they are approaching their tasks and on the dedication of a number of them to ensuring support services are there to assist any of their fellow-employees with their wellbeing.
“Complementing this ‘improvement approach’ is a ‘competence framework’ based on the council’s values. This will be introduced in the near future.
“As a result of the Commission of Inquiry we will also continue to review all aspects of the organisation with the aim of providing better outcomes for our operations.
“These initiatives will not only enhance the wellbeing and efficiency of the council’s internal operations, but also provide the means by which the administration communicates which behaviours are required, valued, recognised and rewarded by staff.
“They will ensure staff, in general, have a common understanding of the council's values and expected excellent performance behaviours.”
Community engagement
"Some people think the shire was doing a good job with community engagement, but I completely disagree with that,” Mr Tanner said.
“There is a real need to get this right, and we need to get it right internally first. We've got to get it right internally before we try to do anything externally."
Mr Tanner said it is important to get community understanding of what the shire actually does.
“I don't think people really understand what local government does, and how it affects their everyday lives.
“They know that potholes get fixed, and rubbish gets collected, but they don't understand all of the other things local government does.”
Mr Tanner said the aim is to empower staff to be able to demonstrate what they actually do.
“That's where cultural change starts. I think the majority of people are proud of what they do, but they don't think to demonstrate it.”
Mr Tanner said an example of empowering staff was his decision to bring council officers into council meetings, so they can talk about what they do and answer questions on it.
“My resolve to embark on these commitments is also founded on the annual Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey of all councils across the state which highlights that the perception of Moira Shire Council, and its services is at an all-time low,” Mr Tanner added.
He said the latest 2023 figures, which are yet to be published, show a further decline on the 2022 figures against a steady decline over the past 10 years, most notably since 2021.
“Of particular concern to me were the declines in all nine performance measures, including consultation engagement, customer service, council direction, overall performance and value for money.
“These results and other factors highlight there is a lot to be done. However, I’m buoyed by my observations that the council will have the capabilities with its staff and their many initiatives to not only address them, but to make significant changes.”
Old primary school site
Mr Tanner understands there is a lot of community support for the purchase of the old primary school site with local philanthropic group the Alexandra Park Club offering council the necessary money to buy the disused site off the state treasury department as part of the First Right of Refusal process at half the determined market value.
“It’s something we have to do the due diligence on,” Mr Tanner said.
“We must establish first of all what the site can be bought for, but more importantly what it can be used for.
“The restrictions that could be part of that sale may mean that it’s not viable, but we haven’t got to that stage.
“We are very keen to advance it with the Alexandra Park Club and the Yarrawonga Mulwala Adult Learning Centre. We are keen to advance it with the state government and identify the costs and what limitations would be involved.”
IBAC investigations
Mr Tanner said that it is important that council work diligently with IBAC on the issues around the alleged corrupt conduct by the Council’s Coordinator of Facilities Maintenance and the conduct by council in transferring asbestos contaminated soil to waste transfer stations unlicensed to receive it.
"We're taking a proactive approach to the clean-up, and our own investigations into it, and the ongoing management of that is happening now, and there are internal time frames we have on that.
"We will keep IBAC fully informed on this, as we will with the procurement issues that have been referred to IBAC. I am trying to keep those costs to a minimum by taking a proactive approach."
The panel of administrators
Mr Tanner expects the panel of three administrators to be appointed in the coming weeks.
Mr Tanner believes moving forward the three administrators would have a suitable and varied skill set.
“Those administrators ideally (would) be coming from a regional or rural background with various skills. I think that is crucially important for this community,” he said.
“The shire will be under administration for five years, which is not something to be concerned about, it’s a positive and should not be a barrier for anything.”